Live updates

Gurkha soldiers in Kent have been scaling the Leas cliff in Folkestone in their battle against litter.

The efforts of the Royal Gurkha Rifles 2nd Battalion is in honour of the Queen's 90th birthday, and is one of a series of clean-ups coordinated by Shepway District Council as part of the national 'Clean for the Queen' campaign.

It is being billed as a huge party for the Queen - a star studded show in the grounds of Windsor Castle, to mark her Majesty's 90th birthday.

Now it has been revealed the event in May, which will be broadcast live on ITV, will be hosted by Britain's most popular TV duo Ant and Dec. As Rachel Hepworth reports, preparations are well under way.

The Queen is opening a new £45 million veterinary school in Surrey today.

She will be joined by the Duke of Edinburgh for a tour of the University of Surrey's School of Veterinary Medicine in Guildford and will meet students.

The Queen Credit: ITV News

The royal couple will meet Professor Noel Fitzpatrick, star of Channel 4's The Supervet, and see dogs that have benefited from prosthetic limb surgery. The new facility boasts one of the best veterinary pathology centres in Europe.

"We are hugely honoured to welcome Her Majesty and His Royal Highness to the University of Surrey.

The School of Veterinary Medicine further cements our position as a world-class institution that is delivering cutting-edge teaching and research from state-of-the-art facilities.

It will not only provide the next generation of sought-after veterinary graduates, but it will offer significant opportunities for collaboration between human and animal medical science professionals and public sector organisations."

The Queen was in Reading today to officially open the town's new railway station. £900 million has been spent on a major revamp which includes five new platforms, two entrances, a new link bridge and retail outlets.

Despite radical cuts to public spending after the last election the massive upgrade at Reading was given the go-ahead.

That's because the station is one of the most important hubs in the country with links to London, Gatwick, the south coast and the Thames Valley.

It's is also one of the most congested.

Our Transport Correspondent Mike Pearse was there for the Royal opening. and spoke to Robbie Burns from Network Rail, Mark Hopwood the Managin Director at First Great Western, and Reading East MP Rob Wilson.

Heroes and heroines from around the south and thames valley region have been recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours list. They range from movie stars to everyday folk doing extraordinary work, as David Johns reports.

Heroes and heroines from around the south-east have been recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours list. They range from sporting stars to everyday folk doing extraordinary work, as David Johns reports.